On the eve of the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA), the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). As passionate global health practitioners and policy-makers came together in Geneva, the fight against Ebola was at the top of everyone’s minds.
Amref Health Africa’s Group CEO Dr Ginthinji Gitahi was the guest of honour at the official launch of Amref Switzerland on Monday, 18th May. In his keynote speech, he framed the outbreak as an example of what is going wrong in global health.
“Those who have already lost their lives to Ebola were let down by their national health systems – and by the world,” he said: because existing systems were unable to prevent them from falling ill in the first place. If global health systems are to be fit for purpose and future-proof, said Dr Gitahi, the focus must shift to prevention and to the building blocks of good health: community engagement, community empowerment, and basic rights like water, sanitation, and nutrition.
The launch was a joyful occasion – but one with a serious and urgent mission at its heart. Dr Gitahi reminded those gathered that, amidst the high-level discussions taking place in Geneva, it is all too easy to lose sight of the fact that “health begins at home, in the community”.
“When I come to these conversations [like the ones taking place at the WHA] I am heavily frustrated,” said Dr Gitahi. “And I know you share that frustration,” he said, addressing the friends, supporters and partners in the room. As an example, he highlighted the progress made in recent years towards encouraging women to give birth at health facilities rather than at home – but noted the sobering reality that, today, 70% of deaths of pregnant women happen in facilities.
“The fact that a woman can lose her life and that of her child in a facility is unacceptable,” he said. “Something still isn’t working, and it’s at a much earlier stage – prevention – that progress still needs to be made.”
“A woman who dies in a facility was first failed at the community level.”
Dr Githinji ended by welcoming those gathered into the growing Amref family. He called on them to use what leverage they have to shape health systems that are built from the bottom up, engaging and empowering communities.
He acknowledged that budget cuts and shifting donor priorities mean it is perhaps more challenging than ever to fund these efforts. As the newest member of the Amref Health Africa family, Amref Switzerland will take every opportunity to advocate – and raise funds – for “equitable, sustainable health systems that serve people where they live, work, learn, and play”.
The Amref Health Africa Switzerland team would like to extend a warm thanks to all those who came to celebrate the start of this latest chapter in the Amref story.
If you are interested in partnering with us, please contact Amref Health Africa Switzerland Focal Point Chiara Polti at [email protected].
